大圣伯纳德山口连接瑞士与意大利。
The Great St. Bernard Pass connects Switzerland to Italy.
海拔 2,473 米，它是欧洲最高的山口。
At 2,473 metres, it is the highest mountain pass in Europe.
著名的圣伯纳德修道院建于11世纪，距此约一英里之遥。
The famous monastery of St. Bernard, which was founded in the eleventh century, lies about a mile away.
几百年来，圣伯纳德犬一直在拯救穿越这条危险山口的旅行者的生命。
For hundreds of years, St. Bernard dogs have saved the lives of travellers crossing the dangerous Pass.
这些友善的狗最初从亚洲引进，甚至在罗马时代就已被用作看门狗。
These friendly dogs, which were first brought from Asia, were used as watchdogs even in Roman times.
既然隧道已经穿山而建，山口没有以前那么危险了，但每年，每当有旅行者陷入困境，狗仍然会被派出到雪地中救援。
Now that a tunnel has been built through the mountains, the Pass is less dangerous, but each year, the dogs are still sent out into the snow whenever a traveller is in difficulty.
尽管有了新隧道，仍有少数人鲁莽地试图徒步穿越山口。
Despite the new tunnel, there are still a few people who rashly attempt to cross the Pass on foot.
在夏季的几个月里，修道院非常繁忙，因为有数以千计的乘车穿越山口的人前来参观。
During the summer months, the monastery is very busy, for it is visited by thousands of people who cross the Pass in cars.
由于周围有那么多人，这些狗必须被关养在一个专门的围栏里。
As there are so many people about, the dogs have to be kept in a special enclosure.
然而，冬天修道院里的生活则大不相同。
In winter, however, life at the monastery is quite different.
气温降至零下30度，几乎没有人试图穿越山口。
The temperature drops to -30 degrees, and very few people attempt to cross the Pass.
修道士们更喜欢冬天而不是夏天，因为他们能拥有更多独处的空间。
The monks prefer winter to summer for they have more privacy.
这些狗也有了更多的自由，因为它们被允许在围栏外自由漫步。
The dogs have greater freedom, too, for they are allowed to wander outside their enclosure.
冬季修道院唯一的常规访客，是在圣诞节和复活节前去滑雪的一批批滑雪者。
The only regular visitors to the monastery in winter are parties of skiers who go there at Christmas and Easter.
这些热爱山间宁静的年轻人，在圣伯纳德修道院总是受到热烈的欢迎。
These young people, who love the peace of the mountains, always receive a warm welcome at St. Bernard's monastery.